Horror author coming to Windsor

Feb. 11, 2013

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Horror and young-adult author Jonathan Maberry will be at the Windsor-Severance Library on Saturday. / Courtesy of Jonathan Maberry

Interested?

Jonathan Maberry will have three events Saturday at the Windsor-Severance Library, 720 3rd St. • A writing workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to noon. This event is limited to the first 25 registrants. Register by visiting the library’s website, www.clearviewlibrary.org. • A teens-only meet and greet will be held from 3:30-4:30 p.m. with coffee and cookies. There also will be an impromptu creative writing challenge. • Maberry will host a presentation and book signing from 7-8 p.m. The presentation is limited to 100 attendees, but overflow seating will be available. For more information, visit www.clearviewlibrary.org or call the library at (970) 686-5603.

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Windsor’s literary scene is getting a major boost.

Jonathan Maberry, a New York Times bestselling and multiple Bram Stoker Award-winning author, magazine feature writer, playwright, content creator and writing teacher/lecturer, is coming to the Windsor-Severance Library later this month.

“We thought he’d be an ideal person to come speak in Windsor because he writes for adults and young adults alike,” said Youth Services Director Hillary Dodge. “And he’s a horror writer during a time when there’s a lot of interest in that genre.”

Maberry made a name for himself in the literary scene with the release of his “Pine Deep” trilogy, horror novels for adults, in the early 2000s. He won the Bram Stoker Award for Best First Novel in 2006 for his “Ghost Road Blues,” the first in the “Pine Deep” trilogy.

“I was very pleased and honored for that kind of recognition,” Maberry said in a phone interview. “I’m now on my 16th novel.”

Maberry will be the focal point of three events Saturday at the Windsor-Severance Library.

He will host a writing workshop for 25 participants from 9 a.m. to noon, a teens-only meet and greet from 3:30-4:30 p.m., and a presentation and book signing from 7-8 p.m.

Maberry really made his mark in the young adult world with the 2010 release of “Rot and Ruin,” the first in a series of four books focusing on the zombie apocalypse.

The Windsor event, with multiple opportunities to interact with readers, is a real treat for Maberry, he said.

“At heart, I’m a writer and a teacher, too,” he said. “I can not only share in what you write, but explore why you write, and what you read. Getting into the heads of my readers is a very valuable thing.”

Dodge had been a fan of Maberry’s literary work for years and had communicated with him through the Horror Writers’ Association.

“When we were planning the zombie month for last October, I thought it would be fun to get a big-name author to come speak to us in Windsor,” Dodge said. “He was an ideal choice to come speak.”

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Although Maberry had to reschedule his visit, Dodge is no less excited for the February event.

“It’s so great that he’s willing to come here,” she said.

As for Maberry, the young adult “Rot and Ruin” books are some of his favorites.

“Young-adult writing is great, because you can cross genres in interesting ways, and you can’t do that with adult fiction,” he said. “I can unchain my imagination, and I’m always surprised by how the stories end up.”

Maberry has been writing professionally since 1978 and in those years has written features for magazines, columns, 28 nonfiction books, plays, greeting cards, song lyrics and comic books in addition to his fiction.

“I don’t know where all the energy for this comes from, but I love getting up every day and going to write,” Maberry said. “I have more energy than when I was 20.”

“Barnes and Noble will be on hand Saturday to sell Maberry’s books.

“Everyone can get something signed,” Dodge said.

“Rot and Ruin” fans who are saddened by the approaching conclusion of the series will have something special to anticipate.

“The first book is now in development to be made into a film,” Maberry said. “It will probably be about two years before it hits movie theaters, but it’s something I’m very proud of.”